Cherry Streusel Bars

Look at how ooey gooey that looks.

Couldn't you just stare at it forever?

Okay... maybe not forever but long enough for it to cool before shoving it in your mouth. 

Don't do it while it's still hot.

Just.

Don't do it. 

It's very burny when it's hot. 

However, once it has cooled, feel free to gobble it up. All that shortbread-ish, cherry pie, crunchy streusel and almond drizzle will have you running back to the store to buy more ingredients so you can make it over and over again!

Cherry Streusel Bar

Ingredients

Base

1 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

generous pinch salt

4 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 tsp almond extract

3 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup slivered almonds

Filling

2 cans (21 oz each) cherry pie filling

Glaze

1/2 cup icing sugar

1 - 2 Tbsp milk

1/2 tsp almond extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350. Line a 9 X 13 pan with parchment paper, lightly spray with cooking spray, set aside. 

In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in salt, eggs, and extracts. Add in flour and baking powder and mix until just combined. 

Scoop out a heaping cup of the batter and set it aside. 

Press the remaining dough firmly into the prepared 9 X 13 pan.

Spread the cherry pie filling over top.

Mix the slivered almonds into the reserved batter. 

Sprinkle the reserved batter with the almonds over the top of the cherry pie filling.

Bake at 350 until top is golden brown - about 50 - 65 minutes. Keep an eye on it. 

Remove from oven to wire rack to cool for 15 minutes.

Use the parchment paper to remove the bar from the pan. Set onto wire rack.

Prepare glaze - whisk together icing sugar, milk, and almond extract until smooth. Consistency should be thin enough to drizzle with a spoon but thick enough to still coat the spoon.

Drizzle over the warm bar.

Let cool completely before slicing. (If you cut it while it is warm, the cherry pie filling will not have set and the bar will fall apart a bit.)

Revel in how pretty it is.

Seriously.

And then, feel free to eat as much as you like.

The cherry pie filling and almond flavor goes very well together, I imagine you could use any pie filling for this bar.Maybe blueberry pie filling with the almond OR lemon pie filling with a coconut extract/shredded coconut, or pumpkin pie filling with some pecans and cinnamon.

Lots of options to try!!

Be sure to visit these fun blogs for tons of great links - Simple Life of a Fire Wife, Lou Lou Girls, New Mrs Adventures, Carole's Chatter